mckelvey



(No Model.)

J. W. 8u R. J. MG'KELVEY. Labl Holder for Mail Bag.

No. 229,628. Patented July 6,1880.

gl- AA Illllhllllllllll'llll WITNESSES. INVENTORS.

,M/@Wd a/- n N-FETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. MCKELVEY AND ROBERT J. MCKELVEY, OF ROCHESTER, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD OF THEIR RIGHT TO GEORGE H. FOX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LABEL-HOLDER FOR MAIL-BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,628, dated July 6, 1880.

Application filed May 17, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN W. MCKELVEY and ROBERT J McKELvEY, both of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State ofN ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Label-Holders forMail-Bags, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple and convenient device for connecting direction labels or tags to mail-bags, by the use of which the label may be quickly attached to and removed from the bag and securely retained thereon as long as desired, with the further advantage of dispensin g with twine or analogous fastenings to which end our improvements consist in the combination of a plate having longitudinal iianges or side guides to receive a paper or pasteboard label, a springcatch to retain the label in position in the plate, and a snap-hook, constructed as described, for connecting the plate to the fastening-cord of a mail-bag.

Ourimprovements further consistin the combination, with a flanged plate suited to receive and retain a label, of two snap-hooks, constructed as described, one of which serves for attachment to a mail-bag cord, and the other to receive a wooden direction-tag. The improvements claimed are hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a label-holder embodying our improvements connected to the mouth of a mail-bag, Fig. 2, a transverse section, and Fig. 3 alongitudinal central section, through the same 5 and Figs. 4and 5, plan views of the same, taken from opposite sides, respectively.

To carry out our invention we provide a light plate, A, preferably of good cast or malleable iron, having a longitudinal iiange or guide, a, upon each edge of one of its sides. The ilanges a are, by preference, formed as shown in the section Fig. 2, each constituting a narrow lip extending above the plate sufciently to admit ofthe insertion of a'paper or pasteboard label, A', beneath it, and "projecting transversely across the same for a sufficient distance to preventthe vertical displacement ofthe label without covering so much of the surface ofthe lat- 5o ter as to conceal the direction which is written or printed thereon.

The label A is retained in position longitudinally between a stop, a', formed upon one end of the plate A, and a spring-catch, a2, connected to the same near its opposite end, the spring-catch projecting above the plate for a distance about equal to the thickness of the label. When depressed by the operator in the act of sliding the label under the flanges athe 6o catch a2 yields and permits the label A to slide over and past it, and as soon as relieved from pressure it springs back into position above the surface of the plate and retains the label securely between it and the end stop, a', until 65 again depressed simultaneously with the sliding outward of the label by the operator, who removes the same.

We have shown the catch a2 as secured to the side ofthe plate Aopposite to that on which 7o the label is placed, and projecting through a slot in the plate to clamp the label, which arrangement we find a desirable one, as it admits of a smooth and unbroken surface for the reception of the label, and also permits the catch to be pressed down entirely clear of the same in insertion and removal.

The label-holder and its attached label are connected to the mail-bag by a snap-hook, B, consisting of a fixed arm, b, formed upon the 8o back of the plate A, and projecting above the saine far enough to allow of the easy passage of the fastening-cord B of the mail-bag beneath it, and a pivoted arm, b', the free end of which abuts against the end of the arm b, and 8 5 is pressed up thereto with sufficient force to prevent accidental displacement by a spring, b2. The meeting ends of the arms b and b are preferably to be provided with an interlocking tongue and groove, to the end of retaining the 9o parts more rmly in connection. The mobility of the arm b admits of the ready attachment and detachment of the label-holder, and by dispensing with the temporary fastenings of twine now employed a material reduction, both in time and expense, is effected.

For the purpose of adapting our label-holders to use either with the present wooden tags or with labels, as may be required, a supplemental snap-hook, C, may be provided, ot' proper dimensions to admit the perforated end ofa tag, I). The sn-.ipAhoolt is ot' similar' construction to that bet'ore described, consisting' of a fixed arin, e, pivoted arm c', and spring' c2, and is located upon the end ot' the plate A opposite to that which carries the snap-hook B. 'hen providcd,as described, with thc two snap-hooks land thelabel-holder is adapted to receive either a tag or a label, or both, as may bc required.

Ourimprovements, which are cheap and si|nple in construction and reliable in operation, enable the temporary expedients ot' tags and twine, which at present involve considerable i expense, tobedispensed with, and,b v the t'acill ity with which the label-holder, label, and inailbag can be connected and disconnected, t'aeiliV tate and economize the operations ot' the |e ceipt and deliverv ot' mail mattei'. l

JOHN W. MCKELVEY. ROBERT J. MCKELVEY.

Witnesses:

.Minas N. CLARK, Wn. ll. MiLLs. 

